JP2005121363A - Gun barrel assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a means useful for a bomb, a missile, a close-attack warship defensive means and a hand gun, and used for exiting a large number of projectiles in a short time. <P>SOLUTION: A gun barrel assembly 10 is provided with gun barrels 12, projectile assemblies 14 axially disposed within the barrel 12, propellant charges 16, ignition members 18, and control means 20. The projectile assemblies 14 are sequentially fired from the barrels. The present invention also discloses an arming system, barrel structure, means for preventing compression of the propellant charges and means for ensuring sealing between the projectile assembly and the barrel. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

Background of the Invention

  The present invention relates to firearms.

  The present invention is useful as an automatic high-speed firearm, and can be used, for example, to fire a large number of bullets in a short time as a mortar mounted defense against bombs, missiles, or attacking aircraft. The present invention is useful for a hand gun such as a quick firing pistol or a rifle including a disposable one.

  Most firearms recently use cartridge ammunition that is mechanically supplied to the barrel. This type of firearm has a large number of moving parts, is heavy and complex, is clogged and unreliable, and the firing speed of this type of automatic firearm required for an elaborate feed loading system to maintain firing speed is , Limited by the time it takes to load the cartridge, seal the barrel, release the barrel, and eject the empty bottle.

  More recently, the use of drugless ammunition has been started which eliminates the need to discharge empty medicine after launch. However, this type of firearm keeps many of the problems of conventional firearms.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention seeks to provide a new system that would eliminate at least one of its disadvantages, replacing the prior art.

According to one aspect, the present invention provides a barrel assembly comprising:
Barrel,
A plurality of bullet assemblies axially disposed within the barrel for engagement and sealing in operation with the barrel of the barrel;
Segmented propellant fillings (propellant charge) that sequentially launch individual bullet assemblies through the barrel launcher,
An ignition member for igniting the divided propellant charge, and control means for selectively and sequentially operating the ignition member;

  The ignition member may be electrical, chemical, mechanical, or any other conventional detonator. Conveniently, the ignition members are electrical and the control means is an electrical control that supplies electrical ignition pulses to the individual ignition members. The control means is preferably configured so that the user can selectively control the speed, number and frequency of pulses to obtain the desired firing pattern. The control means may fire the bullet assembly alone, in pairs, or in any other combination.

  The bullet assembly may be round, regular in shape, or its fins so that when it launches from a gun body, its wings (fins) produce a stabilizing swirl even if the barrel is a smooth inner surface. It may be squeezed. Furthermore, the bullet assembly can also be utilized as a rifle or pistol removal / replaceable barrel.

  In addition, the barrel assembly may constitute one of a plurality of barrel assemblies, and the igniting means of each barrel assembly is controlled by the control means so that multiple rows of bullet assemblies are fired in sequence. It may be actuated. The aiming and firing of the rows of bullet assemblies may be controlled by a conventional radar launch control system or other known launch control system. Individual barrel assemblies may be aimed so that a row of bullet assemblies is concentrated in a particular area, giving that area the maximum density of bullet assemblies.

  Alternatively, the bullet assembly may diffuse to cover a certain area as much as possible. This allows the average separation distance at the target between the bullet assemblies in the row to be set and adjusted according to the nature and range of the target. Of course, individual barrel assemblies may be fired irregularly or independently of other barrel assemblies.

  The multiple bullet assemblies may be in continuous contact with each other over the entire barrel, for which the bullet assemblies may be continuous with each other, or through which the columnar members are in contact with each other for compression. A bearing column may be formed to withstand the compression of the bullet assembly or its associated propellant due to the pressure generated due to the firing of the preceding bullet assembly.

  The propellant may be solid or granular. In either case, compression is undesirable, and the relative movement of the bullet assembly with respect to the barrel may cause discrepancies between each projectile charge and the ignition member.

  In order to reduce the risk of energy loss for accelerating the front portion of the propellant, it is preferable to place an ignition member at the front end of the propellant.

  Each bullet assembly preferably has a warhead and an extension member that at least partially define a space for the projectile charge. Preferably, the extension member includes a spacer assembly that extends rearward from the warhead and abuts an adjacent bullet assembly.

  In one embodiment, the spacer assembly extends through the propellant space and the warhead so that the pressure load is transmitted directly through the next spacer assembly in contact. In such an embodiment, the spacer assembly may provide support for an extension member that may form a thin cylindrical rear portion of the warhead. Further, the extension member may form a sealing contact in operation with the barrel of the barrel in order to prevent combustion leakage through the warhead.

  The spacer assembly preferably has a rigid collar that expands outward to engage the thin tubular back of the malleable warhead in sealing contact with the barrel of the barrel in operation so that it is axial. A compressive load is transmitted directly between the spacer assemblies, so that deformation of the malleable warhead is avoided.

  In other embodiments, wedge surfaces may be provided on the spacer assembly and on the warhead, respectively, so that the warhead may move away from the barrel cavity with axial relative compression between the spacer member and the warhead. Prompt to engage. In such an arrangement, the warhead and spacer assembly may be mounted on the barrel, resulting in an axial displacement that ensures a good seal between the warhead and the barrel. Suitably the extension member is urged to engage with the barrel of the barrel.

  Preferably, the warhead has a tapered opening at its rear end into which a mating tapered plug provided at the front end of the spacer assembly fits. In this case, the axial relative motion between the warhead and the tapered plug creates a radially expanding force that is applied to the warhead.

  The barrel may be non-metallic, and the barrel of the barrel may have a recess that fully or partially accommodates the ignition member. In this case, the barrel contains an electrical conductor that allows electrical communication between the control means and the ignition member. This configuration may be utilized in a disposable barrel assembly that has a limited lifetime of use, and the intended ignition member and control wire can be made integral with the barrel.

  In another configuration, the barrel assembly has an ignition window in the barrel, and the ignition member is provided outside the barrel in close proximity to the ignition window. The barrel may be surrounded by a non-metallic outer cylinder, and the outer cylinder may be provided with a recess that can accommodate the ignition member. The outer cylinder can also incorporate an electrical conductor that allows electrical communication between the control means and the ignition member. The outer cylinder may be formed as a laminated plastic barrel or may contain a printed circuit laminate for the ignition member.

  All of the above configurations also apply to modules or disposables. The barrel assembly may be suitable for firing as it is, or may be mounted in a frame.

  For safety, the barrel assembly may have a firing switch attached to each ignition member that closes when the preceding bullet assembly is released. Preferably, the firing switch is closed by a biasing means that is normally blocked by a preceding bullet assembly. In a preferred embodiment, the warhead and spacer assembly each constitute switch contacts that are typically electrically isolated from each other. And then the electrical circuit between the barrel and the spacer body is completed as the preceding bullet assembly is released. In this configuration, the barrel is electrically connected to the warhead, but is simultaneously in contact with one of the electrodes.

  In another aspect, the present invention broadly resides in a method of atmospheric space defense, comprising a plurality of barrel assemblies substantially as described above, and sequentially firing a charge in a barrel assembly in rapid succession. And launching a continuous row of bullet assemblies into the atmospheric space.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

  Referring to FIG. 1, a barrel assembly 10 is shown, which includes a barrel 12 and a plurality of spherical bullets axially disposed within the barrel 12 for sealing engagement with the barrel of the barrel 12 in operation. 14. Ignite discontinuous firing charge 16, discontinuous firing charge provided between adjacent bullet assemblies 14 for launching each bullet assembly 14 individually and sequentially through the muzzle of barrel 12 The ignition member 18 and control means 20 for selectively and sequentially activating the ignition member 18 are provided.

  In use, the preceding bullet assembly 14 is fired along with the firing of the prior firing charge 16 by the prior ignition member 18. Thereafter, subsequent bullet assemblies are fired sequentially in the same manner. There is no gunpowder delivery system and no moving parts, and the firing rate is practically limited only by the time it takes each bullet assembly to escape the barrel.

  The control means may have time delay means to control the firing rate and / or allow a selected number of continuous ignitions, eg by triggering, in response to each manual operation of the ignition member You may have a timing means. A mode switch that allows the user to select the type of ignition, that is, all-shot firing, short-shot focused fire, continuous firing of a specific number of bullets, firing for each operation, etc. may be combined with the control means. Preferably, integrated circuit electronic control means are used as the control means and may be fabricated as part of a barrel assembly.

  Referring to FIG. 2, the barrel assembly constitutes one of a number of barrel assemblies, and the control means are arranged so that successive rows of bullet assemblies are fired one after the other as shown in FIG. Activating the ignition member of the barrel assembly. The plurality of barrel assemblies form a pod 22 that is mounted on a deformable mount 24. The aiming and firing of the barrel assembly is controlled by the radar firing control system 25 or other conventional system.

  In one form, each barrel is 2.25m long and has an outer diameter of 20mm. The combined length of the projectile and bullet assembly is 50mm. Forty bullet assemblies can be preloaded into the barrel with a combination of projectile charges, leaving 0.25 m of the barrel. The scissors have a cross-section of, for example, 0.25 m to 0.75 m, so that about 1200 barrel assemblies are accommodated. Therefore, the spear can be preloaded with 48000 bullet assemblies.

  This allows significant firepower to be applied to relatively small weapons and allows for very high firing rates given that the firing speed of each barrel assembly is much greater than that obtained with a normal automatic firearm. The barrel assembly may form a relatively lightweight honeycomb structure that will be very stiff, and if necessary, against the diffusive tendency caused by the expansion of hot explosive gases emanating outwardly, You may arrange | position a barrel so that it may concentrate on one comparatively close point. Instead, a box-type baffle can be used to prevent a sudden outward divergence of the gas. The baffle may be slidably supported around the outer barrel portion so as to extend through the barrel end during firing. Another way to mitigate this expected effect is to slightly distort the bullet firing.

  With reference to the embodiment of FIGS. 4-10, the bullet assembly is arranged in abutting relationship along the axis to form a compression resistant cylinder. The axial compressive load is caused by the pressure generated in the barrel by the launch of the preceding bullet assembly. Compression results in a change in the firing rate of the propellant, a misalignment between each propellant and the ignition member, or an early ignition of the propellant.

  Each bullet assembly 14 comprises a bullet 26 and a means for forming a propellant space in the form of a spacer assembly 28, which extends axially and rearward from the bullet 26 and contacts an adjacent bullet assembly 14. Touch.

  The warhead 26 is formed of a heavy malleable material, such as lead, to allow for sealing in operation with the barrel 12. Spacer assembly 28 is formed of a rigid material such as steel.

  In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the spacer assembly 28 takes the form of a tube extending axially from the warhead 26. A propellant 16 is housed inside the cylinder and is structurally reinforced to avoid excessive radial expansion. The end of the tube is abutted against the tip of the subsequent bullet assembly 14.

  Referring to the embodiment of FIGS. 5, 6, and 7, the spacer assembly 28 extends through the warhead 26 to the front end of the warhead 26, and the compressive load is transmitted directly between adjacent spacer assemblies 28. The spacer assembly 28 supports the thin tubular rear portion 30 of the warhead 26 in sealing contact with the barrel of the barrel 12 in operation. Specifically, the spacer assembly 28 has a collar flange 32 that extends radially outwardly, which supports the thin tubular rear portion 30 of the warhead 26 in sealing contact with the barrel of the barrel 12 in operation.

  According to the embodiment of FIGS. 9 and 10, wedge surfaces 34, 36 that meet each other are provided on the spacer assembly 28 and the warhead 26, respectively, so that the thin tubular tail 30 of the warhead 26 is provided to the bullet assembly 14. It is engaged with the gun cavity of the barrel 12 in accordance with the axial pressure load. The warhead 26 surrounds a tapered opening 38 at its rear end and receives just the oppositely tapered tap that is provided at the front end of the spacer assembly 28 there. The relative axial movement between the tapered opening 38 and the opposite tapered tap 40 applies a radially expanding force to the thin cylindrical tail 30 of the warhead 26.

  In the embodiment of FIG. 7, the barrel 12 is non-metallic and the gun cavity has a recess 42 that at least partially houses the ignition member 18. The barrel 12 may be made of Kevlar, carbon fiber, glass reinforced polymer, or the like. The barrel assembly can then be lightweight and disposable. The barrel 12 contains an electrical conductor 44 that allows electrical transmission between the control means and the ignition member.

  8 and 9, the barrel 12 has an ignition window 46, and the ignition member 18 is disposed outside the barrel and close to the window. The barrel 12 is surrounded by a non-metallic outer barrel 48, and the outer barrel has a cavity that at least partially accommodates the ignition member. The barrel assembly may be slidably received on the sheath 50. The outer barrel 48 contains an electrical conductor 44 that allows electrical transmission between the control means and the ignition member.

  Referring to FIG. 10, the firing switch 52 associated with the ignition member 18 closes as the previous bullet assembly is released. Specifically, the firing switch is closed by the biasing means 54 once the preceding bullet assembly has been fired. The warhead 26 and spacer assembly 28 each form a switch contact, which are typically electrically isolated from each other by an insulating layer 56. When the previous bullet assembly is released and the firing switch 52 is closed, the electrical circuit between the barrel 12 and the spacer assembly 28 is completed. The ignition member 18 is therefore only activated when the preceding bullet assembly is released.

  A four-barrel handheld gun 60 is shown in FIG. The barrels of the four-barrel set 61 are arranged in a square shape and are supplied by a replaceable four-barrel magazine block 62 that bites into a notch 63 at the bottom of the barrel set 61. The barrel set 61 is formed integrally with a handle 64 including an electronic control body of an ignition member.

  The four-barrel magazine block 62 is loaded with five rounds per barrel, and this number can of course vary depending on the block size and round size. In this embodiment, the magazine block 62 has 20 rounds.

  The firing speed pattern change switch 66 is provided to selectively control the ignition electronics in the magazine block 62, and the circuit in the handheld gun via a contact that meets when the magazine block 62 is snapped into place. It is electrically connected with. The switch 66 may be adjusted electronically so that the user can fire each round each time the trigger 65 is activated. You can adjust whether to fire up to 4 rounds at the same time or automatically fire all rounds for all barrels. A safety clasp 68 may be provided to electrically disable the weapon. The cartridge is preferably disposable and can take various forms so that the user can select and / or quickly change the type of round to fire.

  As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the bullet used in the above embodiment may have an outer step or a spiral ridge. The bulge 70 is provided on the bullet nose so as to make a turn during flight. In the form shown, the 7.62 mm bullet 71 has four helical ridges 70 that radiate from the bullet nose. The average height of the ridge is 1.5mm, which extends over the entire length of the bullet's nose, but is not on the side of the bullet. The pitch is well-made to make one round of the bullet around its long axis every 1 meter.

  Of course, if necessary, two or more spiral ridges spaced apart on average may be used around the nose of the bullet. In addition, the height, length, helix pitch or angle of the ridge, and the helix geometry can be varied to suit the desired flight characteristics. The ridge may extend along the side of the bullet. The cross-sectional shape of the spiral ridge may be relatively flat or acute, depending on the intended use of the ammunition and depending on the response to the airflow.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the ridge 70 may have a steep front surface 72 that creates resistance to the airflow over the bullet and rotates the bullet. It may also have a flat top 73 and a skirted surface 74 with a gentle slope on the bullet surface.

  Such ammunition is advantageously used for rifle barrel weapons. The spiral on the bullet also helps generate spin during firing, which should reduce the pressure normally applied by the rifle base edge to the bullet's soft metal. Therefore, it is not necessary to cut the rifle's swirl long enough to reach the side of the bullet. Rather, the small expansion band of the Minie gas sealing system fully assists in spin promotion. Upon impact with a soft target, the spiral bullet of the present invention has the property of maintaining a high degree of twisting as it passes through the target and reacting to increased pressure on the ridge.

  It should be understood that the foregoing is merely illustrative of the invention, and that variations and modifications apparent to those skilled in the art are deemed to be within the broad scope and scope of the invention described herein.

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a barrel assembly according to the present invention. FIG. 2 schematically illustrates the concept of multiple barrel assemblies according to the present invention integrated as a pod. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a row of bullet assemblies fired from the pod of FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the barrel assembly of the present invention in which the bullet assembly is in the form of a throw. FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the barrel assembly of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the barrel assembly of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the barrel assembly of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the barrel assembly of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the barrel assembly of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the barrel assembly of the present invention. FIG. 11 is an illustration of a pistol made in accordance with the present invention. FIG. 12 shows another form of bullet. FIG. 13 shows another form of bullet.

Claims (23)

A barrel assembly bullet (14) comprising a number of bullets, comprising a spacer (28, 40) and an inflatable head portion (26, 38) surrounding the spacer,
When in the barrel (12), the backward movement of the head portion with respect to the spacer causes the complementary portion (38, 40) of the head portion and the spacer to expand the head portion to seal the barrel of the barrel. Bullet (14) characterized by interacting to form.   The bullet according to claim 1, wherein the complementary portion (38, 40) of the head portion and the spacer includes a substantially conical surface tapered toward the front of the barrel.   The bullet according to claim 1, wherein the spacer has a nose part, a center part, and a tail part, and the head part surrounds the nose part and the center part.   4. A bullet according to claim 3, wherein the central portion is the complementary portion that interacts with the head portion to form the seal.   The bullet according to claim 3, wherein the head portion is held on the bullet by interaction with the central portion.   4. A bullet according to claim 3, wherein the nose and the tail are substantially conical and aligned with the barrel axis.   4. The bullet according to claim 3, wherein the nose part and the tail part contact the tail part and the nose part of the leading bullet and the tailing bullet, respectively, when in the barrel.   The bullet according to claim 1, wherein the head portion has an outer surface that interacts with an inner surface of the barrel to form the seal.   4. A bullet according to claim 3, wherein the tail has a length determined by the volume of fire required in the barrel to fire the bullet from the barrel. Providing each bullet (14) having a spacer (28, 40), a projectile charge (16) and a head portion (26, 38) surrounding the spacer;
Applying a force to the head portion in the axial direction along the barrel,
Maintaining the spacer substantially rigidly within the barrel, and radially expanding the head portion over the spacer so as to be in sealing contact with the barrel of the barrel. (12) Sealing bullet (14).   11. The method of sealing a bullet (14) of claim 10, further comprising aligning a plurality of bullets within the barrel having a spacer in contact between the nose and tail.   The method of sealing a bullet (14) according to claim 10, wherein the projectile charge is provided in a rear portion of the head portion and in a volume defined by the spacer.   The method of sealing a bullet (14) according to claim 10, further comprising relaxing the head portion to remove the sealing contact when firing the bullet from the barrel.   A barrel assembly having a barrel (12) with a plurality of bullets (14) aligned from the nose to the tail and fired sequentially from the barrel (12), wherein each bullet is a spacer (28, 40), A medicine (16) and an inflatable head portion (26, 38) surrounding the spacer, each head portion being inflated to sealingly contact the barrel of the barrel by back movement of the head portion relative to the spacer. A barrel assembly characterized by being made.   15. A barrel assembly according to claim 14, wherein the propellant is disposed on the barrel at the back of their respective heads by respective spacers.   The barrel assembly of claim 14, wherein the bullets are aligned within the barrel by their respective spacers.   The barrel assembly of claim 14, further comprising an ignition system that sequentially fires the bullets from the barrel. Providing each bullet (14) having a spacer (28, 40) and a head portion (26, 38) surrounding the spacer;
Aligning the bullets with respective projectiles axially within the barrel (12);
Applying a force along the barrel to move the heads rearward on their respective spacers;
A step of expanding the head part as a result of each movement of the head part;
A bullet from the barrel (12) comprising the steps of forming a number of seals between the head and the barrel as a result of each expansion, and sequentially firing the bullet from the barrel. (14) A method of firing.   The method of firing a bullet (14) from a barrel (12) according to claim 18, wherein the force along the barrel is applied to the bullet by reacting to the firing of the projectile charge. .   The method of firing a bullet (14) from a barrel (12) according to claim 18, characterized in that the force along the barrel is applied before the bullet is fired.   19. A bullet (14) is fired from a barrel (12) according to claim 18, characterized in that the expansion of each head part is caused by the interaction between complementary surfaces on the head part and the respective spacer. Method.   The method of firing a bullet (14) from a barrel (12) according to claim 21, characterized in that the complementary surface is tapered towards the front of the barrel.   19. A method for firing a bullet (14) from a barrel (12) according to claim 18, characterized in that the firing charge is provided between the bullets in a volume defined by a respective spacer.